Chapter 182: Rifts Don’t Follow Schedules

Amber pulled her thin crimson robe back on, tying the sash with a satisfied stretch, while Evren and Zephyra pulled on their loose training clothes.

Since all their personal wardrobes and luxury baths were in the penthouse above, the three of them stepped into the private express elevator to head back up.

The smooth lift carried them quietly upward, gliding through the core of the skyscraper all the way to the 80th-floor Sky-Palace. When the doors slid open, they split up to their suites to take proper, warm showers and change into fresh clothes for the day.

After a hot, refreshing wash, Evren pulled on a clean fitted shirt and comfortable dark trousers. Walking down the wide hallway, he pushed open the door to Calista’s master bedroom.

The young alchemist was already awake, propped up comfortably against a stack of soft pillows with the duvet covering her paralyzed legs. She was reading through an old leather-bound notebook filled with handwritten alchemical sketches.

Hearing his footsteps, Calista looked up from her notes. A bright, happy smile instantly lit up her delicate face.

"Good morning, Evren," Calista said softly, closing the notebook and setting it on the nightstand.

"Good morning, little alchemist," Evren replied with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in two years," Calista confessed honestly, her blue eyes shining with genuine peace. "The mana from that beef dinner settled all through my chest, and my back didn’t ache at all."

"That’s because your body is finally getting the nourishment it deserves," Evren said, walking over to the edge of the large bed.

He folded back the duvet, slid one strong arm beneath her back, and scooped her legs up with his other arm. Calista let out a soft gasp, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck as he lifted her effortlessly from the mattress.

Her paralyzed lower half remained limp against his chest, but her upper body was strong and responsive, resting securely in his hold. Evren carried her across the room and gently lowered her into her custom Star-Silk Magitech Chair, making sure her feet rested flat on the supportive footplates.

"Thank you, Evren," Calista murmured, a light blush dusting her cheeks as he adjusted the padded backrest for her.

"Anytime," Evren said with an affectionate wink.

Amber and Zephyra stepped into the bedroom right behind him, both freshly showered, dressed, and smiling warmly at the sight. Zephyra walked over to Calista’s chair and leaned down, wrapping her arms around Calista in a gentle, sisterly hug.

Calista blinked in pleasant surprise, immediately wrapping her arms around Zephyra’s shoulders.

As she held her close, Calista’s alchemical senses picked up something distinct... Zephyra’s presence was completely serene, glowing with a soft silver radiance and totally free of the dark tension that used to cling to her.

Pulling back, Calista looked between Zephyra and Evren, a knowing, happy smile curving her lips. "You look radiant this morning, Zephyra. Something feels very peaceful about you."

Zephyra’s cheeks turned slightly pink, but she didn’t look away. "I feel more whole than I ever have, Calista. Evren took care of me."

"That’s niiicee," Calista whispered softly, her eyes glistening with sweet joy for her friend.

Amber chuckled from the doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed. "Alright, let’s get some breakfast into everyone before we start our morning meetings."

Evren unlocked the magitech chair’s wheels and guided Calista out into the grand dining room. He positioned her comfortably at the table where the morning sun warmed the glass.

Stepping into the kitchen, Zephyra brewed a fresh pot of star-mint herbal tea. She poured a steaming cup and placed it gently in front of Calista to soothe her recovering mana channels.

Calista wrapped both hands around the warm ceramic mug, smiling up at her in gratitude. "Thank you, Zephyra."

Amber fired up the stove, quickly whisking eggs into a buttered skillet, while Zephyra toasted thick slices of bread and sliced fresh fruit onto platters. Within fifteen minutes, the entire dining area smelled wonderfully of melted butter and toasted sourdough.

They carried the warm plates over to the table and sat down together. The morning sun bathed the penthouse in clear, golden light.

As they ate, Evren looked over at Calista. "How are you feeling about Starlight Pharmaceuticals, Calista? Now that the title to the facility is officially registered in your name?"

Calista swallowed another sip of her warm star-mint tea and set her cup down. Her alchemist mind switched into sharp focus.

"The location in District 2 is wonderful, Evren," Calista began honestly, her expression turning serious. "And the twenty million dollars in operating capital you wired into the bank account gives us a tremendous cushion. But I want to be completely realistic with you about where we stand."

Evren nodded encouragingly, listening attentively. "Tell me what’s on your mind."

"Right now, the building is just an empty shell," Calista explained with a sigh. "We don’t have distillation vats, sterile autoclaves, filtration arrays, or even basic glass measuring vials."

She glanced out the window toward District 3 before looking back at Evren. "The ancestral conservatory is in our hands, which means we have living Star-Jade trees for rare sap and many other rare ingredients and herbs. But we have zero mineral stabilizers, and not a single worker or certified alchemist on payroll."

Zephyra leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "So we can’t produce any elixirs yet, even if we wanted to?"

"Not yet," Calista confirmed with a gentle shake of her head. "If we rushed to produce medicine without proper distillation tanks, the purity would be terrible, and we could poison people. Setting up a real pharmaceutical company takes specialized machinery and trustworthy people who won’t sell our formulas to corrupt guilds."

Calista looked at Evren with an earnest, apologetic gaze. "I know you invested thirty million into the building and twenty million into the account, so I didn’t want you thinking we could start shipping potions today."

Evren chuckled warmly, reaching across the table to place his hand over hers. "Calista, I never expected you to pull medicine out of thin air overnight. You’re thinking exactly like a true master alchemist should."

Calista looked up at him, her eyes softening with relief.

"You have twenty million in cash to spend however you see fit," Evren continued with a confident smile. "Let’s see how today goes. We can start ordering the finest high-grade distillation arrays from the Capital Artisan Guild. We’ll buy the purest bulk herbs, and we’ll take our time hiring only vetted alchemists who answer strictly to you."

"Thank you, Evren," Calista whispered, her heart swelling with deep gratitude. "Having someone who truly understands the craft means everything to me."

"We’re building something permanent here," Evren said, leaning back in his chair. "Quality and safety come first."

Amber smiled proudly at Calista, taking a bite of her toast. "And don’t worry about corporate politics or competitors trying to sabotage us. The moment Starlight opens its doors, Apex’s full security force will be guarding your labs around the clock."

"I feel completely safe with all of you," Calista said, her smile bright and radiant.

Just as Evren picked up his cup to finish his morning coffee, the glass walls of the penthouse gave a sudden, sharp rattle.

A deep vibration rumbled through the concrete core of the skyscraper, rattling the plates and silverware on the dining table. Evren’s danger sense flared instantly, his eyes snapping toward the eastern horizon.

Before anyone could speak, an ear-splitting, blood-red emergency siren began howling across the entirety of District 1.

The shrill wail bounced off the glass skyscrapers, followed by secondary sirens from municipal defense towers across the city.

Outside the panoramic windows, the bright morning sky suddenly turned dark, shadowed by swirling dark clouds that began twisting into a massive spatial storm.

The emergency display console on the dining room wall lit up with flashing crimson warnings. A sharp chime echoed through the penthouse as Grand Arbiter Raymond Kincaid’s deep, booming voice broadcasted over the imperial emergency defense channel:

[IMPERIAL DEFENSE DIVISION: CODE RED MANDATE]

[EXTINCTION-CLASS SUSPENDED SKY RIFT DESTABILIZATION CONFIRMED]

[BREACH COMMENCING 48 HOURS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE OVER DISTRICT 1]

[ALL REGISTERED GUILDS MUST ASSEMBLE AT THE IMPERIAL CITADEL PLAZA IMMEDIATELY!]

[CIVILIAN NOTICE: ALL RESIDENTS MUST REMAIN INDOORS, SEAL REINFORCED SHUTTERS, AND STAY CALM. MUNICIPAL DEFENSE FORCES ARE ACTIVATING PROTECTIVE ARRAYS.]`

"All civilians, shelter in place and stay calm," Kincaid’s deep voice boomed through the speakers. "Do not take to the streets, as imperial defense forces are deploying to secure the skies."

The sirens continued screaming as dark shadows lengthened across the city below. Amber stood up instantly, her eyes flashing with focus. "The sky rift is tearing open now!"

Beside her, Zephyra rose to her feet, her shadow pooling naturally around her boots as her assassin instincts took over. "The timing is completely off. The council said we had two full days."

Evren pushed his chair back, his expression turning cold as he looked up at the twisting purple vortex in the clouds. The peaceful morning was officially over.

"Rifts don’t follow schedules," Evren said calmly as he looked at his team. "Get your gear, we’re moving out."